A/N Writing this bad boy was a struggle and a half. Took me about 3 days when I can usually write these in one sitting. Hope you enjoy I am really working through some writer's block and my mom will be in town next week so not sure when I'll have another update. In the meantime check out my other fics if you've read them...read them again. lol
"Mellie are you ready yet!" I hear him calling my name, but I've locked myself in the bathroom overcome with morning sickness, actually it's not even morning. My sickness doesn't care what time of day it is. I feel like I'm being punished because I haven't told Fitz about the baby. My body heaves again as another wave of nausea over takes me. I silently pray that he doesn't come near the bathroom. I close my eyes tightly trying to compose myself and will the sick feeling away. Finally I feel that my stomach has settled enough for me to leave the bathroom.
I stand from the floor and look in the mirror. My eyes are blood shot and I'm sweaty from the effort. My throat is raw from the acidic burn of the bile.
"Mellie" I hear him right outside the door. He tries to turn the knob, but it won't budge because its locked. He begins to knock. "Mellie you aren't getting out of this we are going to visit your parents….together." I take a deep breath annoyed by his antics. He doesn't give me a moments peace anymore. He knocks on the door again. I go and open leaving his fist hanging in the air in mid-knock.
"I'm not trying to get out of anything. Going to see my parents was my idea remember?" I say as I walk past him.
"You ok?"
"Yes I just needed a moment of solitude. I don't get that very often these days since you always up in my shit." I can tell from his expression that he's shocked by my words.
"So it's damn if I do, damn if I don't with you Mellie." I take a deep breath not really wanting to have this conversation.
"There's a right way to act like you love someone and a wrong way."
"Oh I'm loving you wrong?"
"You're pretending to love that's why it's wrong." I sigh, looking at her I know that she is still not convinced of how much I love her. That this is not an act.
"Mellie baby I'm not pretending. I love you I have never stopped loving you. I know that I didn't always show, but that things are different now, I'm different."
"Forgive me if I'm not convinced. Excuse me I need to make sure that I have everything packed." She walks around me and goes into the closet to grab her bags.
"Let me, I've already sent Teddy's things downstairs." I grab her bags and walk them into the hall where the butler takes them from me. I peak back into the room. "Mels you ready?" She nods yes and walks over to the door. There is something about her that I just can't put my finger on. "Baby everything ok?"
"Yes." She walks around me. I roll my eyes and shake my head knowing this is going to be a long week.
Asheville
Mellie and I arrive at her parent's house. I wanted to stay at a hotel, but Mellie insisted that she was going to stay at her parent's house. We enter the house and her mother comes over and hugs Mellie tightly like she hasn't seen her in years. Her mother was always over dramatic. After greeting Mellie and Teddy she looks at me.
"Fitz it's good to see you again." She hugs me lightly before moving away. I used to have a good relationship with her parents until they found out about my infidelities. I guess I can't exactly blame them for hating me. If someone treated Karen the way that I've treated Mellie I would be furious.
Mellie and I go up to the guest room and get settled in. "That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."
"My mother is a lady Fitz what did you expect her to do?" She says snidely as she begins to unpack her things. I walk over to her and touch her shoulder. She turns to me.
"Mels when are you going to believe that things are different now, that I'm different?"
"When hell freezes over." She gives me a saccharine sweet smile before she turns and continues to unpack. I decide that this is fruitless and I walk out of the room.
I find Mellie's dad sitting in the backyard smoking a cigar.
"Mind if I join you?" He motions to the empty seat next to his.
"Care for a cigar?" I shake my head no I was never one for the cigars. He nods and continues to stare off into the distance. I'm not exactly sure what to say to him. "You serious about being with my daughter this time?" He speaks without ever looking my way.
"Yes sir I am. I made a lot of mistakes, made a lot of wrong assumptions, but I'm in it. I love your daughter she's a remarkable woman."
"Don't fuck this up again Fitz, you won't get another chance." I knew that he was right. I was shocked that he wasn't reading me the riot act.
"I'm surprised you aren't trying to strangle me right now."
"Don't think I haven't thought about it, but I know despite all the issues you two have she loves you. There was a time that you made her happy and I hope that you can get back to that. If you can't then you need to leave her alone." He looks at me sternly his blue eyes sparkling in the weaning sunlight.
"I will make her happy. I will make up for all the wrong I've done."
He shakes his head. "You're going about it all wrong. You can't make up for cheating on her and treating her like you have. You need to just look to the present and the future and leave the past in the past. And Fitzgerald do know that if you don't treat my daughter right this time you'll have me to answer to and to hell with the Secret Service." Jackson turns back and looks out over the horizon as he puffs on his cigar. I know that he isn't joking that he will absolutely hurt me if I don't make this right.
"I promise I'm going to do right. And if I can't make her happy I will let her go." He nods again, but doesn't look at me. I settle into the chair and look out over the horizon with him, enjoying the momentary solitude.